Mitsukoshi Ginza ¥4 billion relaunch

Mitsukoshi Ginza will have a grand opening ceremony in mid-October to celebrate a further ¥4 billion remodelling designed to keep the store competitive with its neighbours and attract even more tourists.

The key features of Mitsukoshi’s updated Ginza store include more Japanese brands, as well as more celebration of Japanese culture and services. A new Mitsukoshi run sales area called “Ginza Style (Japan Filter)” will be dedicated to Japanese design including a Japan Handbag collection. The jewellery section will include a new store for Tasaki and other Japanese brands. The third floor Le Place apparel floor will house 50 Japanese designers in a new area called Japan Communication Stage.

Other floors have also been remodelled with a much higher spec, including marble floors and chandeliers, along with new brands. Womenswear has been reduced by 10% and menswear by 20% to allow for more accessory, fragrance, and jewellery areas as well as the expanded duty free store.

The new duty free store will be key to Mitsukoshi Ginza’s ongoing success. The huge 3,300 sqm space called Japan Duty Free Ginza will include a dedicated customer service area with 50 staff conversant in Chinese, Korean and English. As well as handling tax issues, the space will sell SIM cards and other products to make life easier for tourists, and offer guides and information.

A separate VIP tourist area is sure to be a hit with high spending Chinese tourists, and comes complete with large fitting rooms and a 28 seat lounge. Since products are sold both duty and tax free, customers will have to pick up their purchases at the airport after going through passport control.

Mitsukoshi Ginza has seen tourist sales jump from just 2% of turnover in FY2012 to nearly 15% in FY2014, helping store turnover rise from ¥45 billion in FY2010 to ¥77 billion last year. Isetan-Mitsukoshi hopes the new Duty Free store will contribute sales of ¥10 billion in year one and ¥13 billion within two to three years.